Djokovic disappearing act expected to end at Monte Carlo

Disheartened Novak Djokovic will take another month off to recover his poise after last week’s bad-tempered third-round Indian Wells upset loss to Italian outsider Luca Nardi.

The world No. 1 Serb had a poor opening quarter of the season with just 11 matches played and an Australian Open semi-final shock defeat his best result.

After going out to the 96th-ranked Nardi in the Californian desert, Djokovic then took his toys and headed home, opting to miss the Miami Masters starting at mid-week.

“Unfortunately I won’t be playing the @MiamiOpen this year. At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule,” he tweeted.

Instead, the Serb who is reportedly involved with some back-room dealing for a possible upcoming tennis “all-star” event, headed to LA and then back to Europe.

The Monte Carlo-based multimillionaire is only expected to surface for the informal start of the European clay season in the principality from April 7.

That event is also being touted as the return of Rafael Nadal, expected to begin  his own season on clay after more than a year of injury start/stops.